U.S. universities again bring back mask mandates, switch to online classes and scale back large gatherings in response to rise in COVID-19 infections, AP reported.

"Colleges in Washington, D.C., New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Texas have reimposed a range of virus measures, with Howard University moving to remote learning amid a surge in cases in the nation's capital," the AP report said.

This is the third straight academic year that has been disrupted by COVID-19.